Booth's Gin

Booth's Gin is a historic British gin brand with roots traced to approximately 1740, when a Lincolnshire branch of the Booth family became involved in its production. The brand developed a reputation as a widely consumed make of London dry gin and became particularly recognizable through its distinctive hexagonal glass bottles. Its labels referenced the Red Lion distillery in Clerkenwell, London, where the gin was originally produced, and incorporated imagery associated with the Booth family heraldic crest. The brand was traditionally positioned as a refined, classic English gin. It was sometimes described as the “gentleman's gin,” a characterization that reflected its long-standing place in British drinking culture rather than a formally documented modern positioning statement. Booth's also acquired a reputation through associations with prominent consumers. It was reputedly favored by Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother, while novelist and critic Sir Kingsley Amis was said to prefer Booth's as a mixer for pink gin. These associations helped reinforce the brand's image as an established and traditional British spirit. By the 21st century, Booth's Gin had become much less available in its historic home market. During a period under Diageo Spirits ownership, production was limited to the United States, and manufacture ultimately ceased in 2017. In November 2018, Diageo sold the brand to the Sazerac Company, a major spirits producer with a portfolio of whiskey, liqueurs, vodka, gin, and other alcoholic beverages. Sazerac subsequently revived the brand in the United Kingdom. Production of Booth's Finest Old Dry Gin recommenced there in 2022, restoring the brand to its original national market after several years of absence. The modern brand therefore combines historical British provenance, traditional London dry gin associations, and a revival strategy under new ownership. Publicly available reference material provides limited detail about its current distribution, production scale, advertising activity, or wider product portfolio.

Booth's Gin traces its origins to approximately 1740, when a Lincolnshire branch of the Booth family established the gin business associated with the name. The brand became identified with London dry gin and was historically produced at the Red Lion distillery in Clerkenwell. Its packaging played an important role in its identity: Booth's was particularly famous for being sold in hexagonal glass bottles, while its paper labels referred to the Clerkenwell distillery and displayed elements connected with the Booth family crest. Over time, Booth's became a well-known and widely consumed British gin. It was also marketed and remembered as a gentlemanly, traditional style of gin, reflecting the social conventions surrounding classic English spirits. The brand's cultural reputation was strengthened by reported associations with members of the British royal family. Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother were both reputed to favor Booth's, while writer and critic Sir Kingsley Amis reportedly used it as the preferred gin for pink gin, a drink made by combining gin with a small amount of Angostura bitters. The brand's later history was marked by reduced availability and changes in ownership. By the 21st century, Booth's Gin was owned by Diageo Spirits, but production had become concentrated in the United States rather than the United Kingdom. Production ceased in 2017, leaving the brand unavailable for a period. In November 2018, Diageo sold Booth's to Sazerac Company. Sazerac restored production in the United Kingdom in 2022 with Booth's Finest Old Dry Gin. This restart represented a revival of a long-established British gin name after its period of discontinuation and overseas production. Available reference material does not provide a complete account of the brand's original founding business, detailed recipe development, successive distillery ownership, or current distribution network. The brand's documented identity remains centered on its approximately eighteenth-century origins, Clerkenwell associations, hexagonal bottle, heritage positioning, and modern revival under Sazerac.

1. 2022United Kingdom production resumes

   Sazerac recommenced British production of Booth's Finest Old Dry Gin.

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2. 2018Sazerac acquires the brand

   Sazerac Company purchased Booth's Gin from Diageo Spirits in November 2018.

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3. 2017Production ceases

   Production of Booth's Gin, which at that point was being made in the United States, ceased.

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4. 1740Booth's Gin is established

   The brand's origins are traced to approximately 1740 and a Lincolnshire branch of the Booth family.

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5. The brand becomes associated with the Red Lion distillery

   Booth's Gin is historically linked with production at the Red Lion distillery in Clerkenwell, London, an association reflected on its labels.

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6. Hexagonal bottle becomes a signature feature

   The brand becomes particularly recognizable through its distinctive hexagonal glass bottle.

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Historic, traditional British London dry gin with a heritage-led identity centered on its long history, distinctive bottle design, and associations with classic English drinking culture.

• Booth's Finest Old Dry GinLondon dry gin

  The principal documented Booth's Gin expression and the product used for the brand's United Kingdom revival in 2022. It represents the brand's traditional dry-gin identity and connects the modern product with Booth's long British history.

• 2022Booth's Finest Old Dry Gin is revived in BritainProduct launch

  Sazerac acquired the brand after production had ended and sought to restore its historic British presence.

  What changed. Production of Booth's Finest Old Dry Gin recommenced in the United Kingdom.

  Aftermath. The historic brand returned to production in its original national market.

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• 2018Sazerac acquires Booth's GinM&A

  Following the end of production, Diageo Spirits sold the Booth's Gin brand.

  What changed. Sazerac Company acquired the brand from Diageo in November 2018.

  Aftermath. The acquisition created the basis for a subsequent relaunch and return to United Kingdom production.

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• 2017Production is discontinuedStrategy

  By the 21st century, Booth's Gin was being produced in the United States rather than solely in its historic British setting. Production ceased in 2017.

  What changed. Manufacture of the brand was stopped.

  Aftermath. The brand became unavailable until its later acquisition and revival by Sazerac.

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• 2022Booth's Gin production resumes in the United Kingdom

  Sazerac recommenced United Kingdom production of Booth's Finest Old Dry Gin, reviving the brand in its historic home market.

  Product launch
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• 2018Diageo sells Booth's Gin to Sazerac

  Diageo Spirits sold the Booth's Gin brand to Sazerac Company in November 2018.

  M&A
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1. Booth's Gin
2. Booth's Gin at Difford's Guide